How to tell if it's plaster?

seagull77 · 19 Jun 2014

Hi all,

We're in the process of, hopefully, buying a new house built around 1920.

There is a textured finish on the walls (not sure if this has been there since it was built). The vendor says he believes the textured finish is done in plaster.

Is there a simple way to tell if the finish is indeed in plaster or some other material, say, artex.

Thanks

footprints · 19 Jun 2014

No, only way is to have it sampled for asbestos I'm afraid.

Why did people do walls in this stuff? I have had hallways and stairs that tear the skin off your elbows when passing!

seagull77 · 19 Jun 2014

Thanks.

Just to clarify (because of my lack of knowledge rather than anything in the answer).

As I understand it, a test of a sample of artex will tell me if that artex has asbestos in it or not.

Are you saying that a test is the only way to tell if it's actually artex in the first place (regardless of asbestos or not) as opposed to simply a plaster finish.

Thanks again.

roughcaster · 19 Jun 2014

Can you post a pic to look at?

seagull77 · 19 Jun 2014

Don't really have any pictures to hand.

The pictures on rightmove are here: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-29360934.html#

The ones of the lounge and around the fireplace in the kitchen might give the best idea, but to be honest I'm not sure they're of a good enough quality to show what you might need to see. (the bathroom pictures are not the same, and are walls that have been done much more recently)

Thanks

footprints · 19 Jun 2014

Artex is a kind of plaster finish and can be treated as such skimmed over etc, as long as asbestos is not an issue.

I stand to be corrected but my feeling was it is a plaster coating with fibres in to create a texture.

Old plaster like cornice in victorian and earlier homes had horse hair etc to strengthen it, a similar principle.

Why are worried wether it is artex or plaster?

Like the idea of a cellar by the way, always fancied one

FrankE · 9 Jul 2014

seagull77 said:
Thanks.

Just to clarify (because of my lack of knowledge rather than anything in the answer).

As I understand it, a test of a sample of artex will tell me if that artex has asbestos in it or not.

Are you saying that a test is the only way to tell if it's actually artex in the first place (regardless of asbestos or not) as opposed to simply a plaster finish.

Thanks again

The sample is tested with a mineralogists spectroscope which will display a signature pattern of light for different species of asbestos.

Don't guess when trying to rule it out. Assume it is asbestos until it has been proved otherwise by testing.

I wouldn't take a vendor's or anyone else's word except that of a test cert.
Plastering over it leaves it for some other soul to deal with or accidentally release fibres.

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How to tell if it's plaster?

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